If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Hi, some footwork and smashing question

Footwork

Hi, i wonder what is the good starting standing stance? i am a right-handed person.
So i am wondering is standing 2 feets together (at the same level) or right leg behind of left leg.
i saw this video telling me to put 2 feets at the same level. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZ9j6Tr9g4
but all my school team player all place their master foot at the front (right for right-handed, left for left handed)

Smash

I wonder what is the position of a forehand smash.I take reference to this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKOLrzwSAo
I wonder is it a must to twist your elbow to the front before you contact the shuttle and hit it and follow through the action. I ask this is because i feel the action is very ackward to me and after trying it, i feel my shoulder feel like breaking and my school team player advice me that you must feel right when you execute the smash and if you find it a chore, you are doing it wrong.

Hi, i wonder what is the good starting standing stance? i am a right-handed person.
So i am wondering is standing 2 feets together (at the same level) or right leg behind of left leg.
i saw this video telling me to put 2 feets at the same level. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZ9j6Tr9g4
but all my school team player all place their master foot at the front (right for right-handed, left for left handed)

Smash

I wonder what is the position of a forehand smash.I take reference to this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKOLrzwSAo
I wonder is it a must to twist your elbow to the front before you contact the shuttle and hit it and follow through the action. I ask this is because i feel the action is very ackward to me and after trying it, i feel my shoulder feel like breaking and my school team player advice me that you must feel right when you execute the smash and if you find it a chore, you are doing it wrong.

why not u try on court yourself, if you find 2 foots together are more comfortable, then use it that way ; vice-versa. Although i don't always watch guide on youtube, but i do always watch international players play, and there is where i learn

Seems nothing too out of place in the video. If you have a problem doing that movement, perhaps you are not rotating your upper body enough. You might think you are rotating but check using a camera phone. Often we think we can do an action, but sometimes it's not quite the same as the expert players.

Hi, i wonder what is the good starting standing stance? i am a right-handed person.
So i am wondering is standing 2 feets together (at the same level) or right leg behind of left leg.
i saw this video telling me to put 2 feets at the same level. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZ9j6Tr9g4
but all my school team player all place their master foot at the front (right for right-handed, left for left handed)

An effective stance of readiness is foot preparation on court that can effectively allow a player to:
- Respond quickly to an opponent shot
- Return quickly to his optimal base location between each shot.
By having such agile respond, the chance to produce a winning shot or an opportunity for a winning shot is much higher.

By understanding this, regardless while you're at position of readiness and your foot is at the same square level or one of them is slightly inches in front while on stance or between shots, your stance is your leading foot that follows your racket hand, all of this can be your effective stance of readiness if the outcome of all your hits can produce winning results.

Its only the matter of your adaptation through constant practice to which stance criteria that eventually will suits you effectively and not because your colleague said so.

Originally Posted by wishyq

Smash

I wonder what is the position of a forehand smash.I take reference to this video.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGKOLrzwSAo
I wonder is it a must to twist your elbow to the front before you contact the shuttle and hit it and follow through the action. I ask this is because i feel the action is very ackward to me and after trying it, i feel my shoulder feel like breaking and my school team player advice me that you must feel right when you execute the smash and if you find it a chore, you are doing it wrong.

The video explain well to address your question. If the method of your smash feels awkwardly and you feel like your shoulder is breaking then simply enough that your smashing technique is not correct. The reasons that such condition occur most likely because:

- You're not rotating your upper body to facilitate that enough downward force while making your swings
- Your follow through from your smash most likely does not end to left side of your body but rather purely perpendicular to the incoming birdie
- There is no snapping or corking from your wrist at the moment of impact and that downward force comes hugely from how fast your shoulder swings.
- Your racket foot is not positioned in front of your non racket foot after smashing

It's hard to tell why unless there is a video of you playing but if the outcome of your smash is not satisfactory then you're technique or footwork or both can be the reason.

hm, i think it is due to not twisting my upper body enough and hence forcing my elbow to twist inward, causing my shoulder strain. Thanks guys for your help . Now i need to start to develop my muscle memory as i think i alway not twisting my elbow to obtain a higher contact point.

One fast and stupid question, i should be position sideway (perpendicular to the net) and be left side of the birdie when prepare to execute the smash? (i am a right-handed guy)

I think that one of your feet should be in front because it is much slower to move back and forth than it is to move from left to right. I would recommend that you go here for badminton smash tips and badminton smash training videos.

Regarding the footwork, the position of the feet depends on the where you expect the shuttle will land. If the shuttle is expected to land sideway of your body, it's better to have both feet level. And if you expect the shuttle to land at the front or rear court, it's better to have the right foot slightly in front for quick turns.

About the smash, i have tried lifting my elbow higher and twisting it before contact. The trajectory is sharp, but it's still lacking power. I'm still figuring out the best way to balance between power and getting good angles for smashing.